Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is relaxed about Raheem Sterling's future despite reported interest from Bayern Munich.
The club are trying to tie the 20-year-old to a new long-term contract and can ill-afford to lose their next potential world-class star following the departure of striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona in the summer.
“Hopefully it is not going to be the case. We are trying to build something here,” said Rodgers.
“We were on a path for a couple of years and we have had to come off that path since the summer having lost some players and have had to regroup.
“He is a real talisman for this team. He has been a great example of the progress that a lot of the players have made here.
“He has gone from a youth team player to one of the top young players in European football.
“The club, I am sure, will work very hard (on his contract) and Raheem is happy here, he loves being a Liverpool player.
“I am sure between them and the representatives we can get a deal done which will see him go on to continue to develop what is an exciting career.
“I will never be surprised teams will be linked with Raheem as he is such a big talent at 20, a wonderful young player, but I am quite relaxed about it.”
Sterling found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons at the weekend after missing Liverpool’s best chances in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United.
Rodgers insists the youngster is not being affected by the debate over his future.
“I think Raheem has been brilliant, absolutely outstanding, added Rodgers, ahead of a crucial League Cup quarter-final at Championship leaders Bournemouth.
“The kid’s played in a front role for me at the weekend – a role he has played before as a youngster – but I don’t think it is affecting him one bit.
“Okay he maybe could have got a goal or so but he puts defenders on the back foot, he is intelligent in his game, has running ability, and is getting himself into some wonderful positions.
“The kid has been a real catalyst for us in terms of our attacking threat so I don’t think there is anything which has affected him.
“He leaves his representatives to work with the club to hopefully organise the deal for him and he has no real influence in that.
“All I ask him to do is concentrate on playing football and the performances will come and he has shown consistently he has been a real threat.”
Rodgers will need that threat against Bournemouth, who scored five against Cardiff at the weekend and have not lost a match since September.
“We’re in competitions to win trophies, so if we can get the victory against Bournemouth and get through, the aim for us would be to hopefully go on and win the competition,” said the Liverpool manager.
“This is the first cup competition that you can win, so it was always a priority for me.”
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Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
More coverage from the Future Forum
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
